ISLAMABAD:
Financial managers have noticed that authorities’s funding in Lahore Garment Metropolis Firm (LGCC) is a waste of cash and due to this fact it ought to chorus from operating companies.
Throughout discussions at a latest assembly, the Financial Coordination Committee (ECC) famous that substantial authorities cash had been spent on the LGCC venture with a view to enhancing textile exports.
Nevertheless, aside from a number of buildings, desired outcomes couldn’t be achieved regardless of a lapse of appreciable time. There was a dire want for personal sector-led development whereas the federal government ought to chorus from operating companies and prohibit itself to coverage features, the assembly was instructed.
The ECC noticed that partaking the federal government in such initiatives was tantamount to wastage, due to this fact, there must be an intensive evaluation of the venture for making a call on its continuation or in any other case. One other view was that within the presence of latest initiatives such because the Quaid-e-Azam Attire Park in Punjab, there appeared little justification for the garment metropolis. The Ministry of Commerce briefed the ECC that LGCC had been established in 2004 to supply state-of-the-art infrastructure to value-added textile producers.
It was included below the Corporations Ordinance, 1984 as a public sector firm whereas the Central Improvement Working Occasion (CDWP) authorized the scheme at a price of Rs586.88 million on June 14, 2011.
LGCC obtained a money growth mortgage of Rs572.64 million on which an curiosity price of Rs913.815 million collected till June 2023.
The erstwhile Textile Division despatched a abstract on January 25, 2018 to the prime minister for changing the mortgage right into a grant. Nevertheless, it was returned with the directive to position the matter earlier than the CDWP.
The CDWP, in its assembly on Might 16, 2019, opposed the proposal and requested for taking on the matter with the Ministry of Finance for mortgage restructuring or rescheduling. The commerce ministry convened two conferences on August 31, 2020 and October 28, 2021, whereby it was determined that LGCC would submit an affordable reimbursement plan to clear the principal quantity and curiosity price.
LGCC, in its 67th board assembly dated November 30, 2021, agreed to repay the principal quantity in three installments with a request to instantly waive the curiosity price, ie, Rs796.15 million until June 30, 2021, and settle the curiosity payback interval with the finance ministry.
In April 2023, LGCC submitted a reimbursement plan primarily based on the up to date accrued mark-up. It was agreed to repay the principal quantity in 10 equal installments (as a substitute of three) over 10 years (as a substitute of 15 years) with the situation that curiosity would proceed to accrue till the total principal quantity was paid. Later, LGCC in its board assembly on August 7, 2023, agreed to pay the principal quantity in two equal installments (on June 14, 2024 and June 1, 2025) and the accrued markup over the following 10 years as soon as the principal quantity was repaid. The commerce ministry knowledgeable the ECC {that a} draft abstract was despatched to the finance ministry, whereby it communicated that cost dates of each installments must be revised to December 30, 2023 and July 31, 2024 and the accrued mark-up can be calculated and conveyed to LGCC upon closing settlement of the principal quantity.
The LGCC board, in its 76th assembly, determined to pay the overall principal quantity in June 2024 and the accrued curiosity (of Rs913.815 million until June 2023) over the following 10 years.
The finance ministry concurred with receiving the overall principal quantity in June 2024 however indicated that the accrued mark-up can be Rs965.957 million (as a substitute of Rs913.815 million), which LGCC needed to pay in 10 equal installments. The ministry’s suggestions have been authorized by LGCC in its 77th board assembly.
Printed in The Specific Tribune, April 21st, 2024.
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